Hagel hearing Jan. 31

1/16/13 11:11 AM EST

The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold its hearing on the nomination of Chuck Hagel for secretary of Defense at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, the panel announced Wednesday.

Hagel picked up two key Senate backers this week - Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.). Tuesday, Schumer said Hagel addressed his concerns over Israel and Iran during a 90-minute Monday meeting at the White House.

Forty-two percent of Americans support the nomination, and 24 percent oppose Hagel, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released Tuesday. The partisan division over Hagel is stark: 61 percent of Democrats support his nomination, compared with 40 percent of independents and 28 percent of Republicans.